Michael Appleton scored straight from a corner as Preston North End ended Fulham’s unbeaten start to the First Division at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
The winger squeezed his set play between Maik Taylor and the near post, which the Whites had left unguarded, to bring Jean Tigana’s run of twelve league fixtures without defeat since arriving in England this summer to an end. This setback follows hot on the heels of a goalless draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend – which halted Fulham’s 100% league start to the season.
North End thoroughly deserved their victory as they scrapped for every loose ball, hassled and harried the league leaders in a fashion that Fulham hadn’t faced this season, and could easily have gone in front well before Appleton’s rather fortuitous winner arrived midway through the second half. Jon Macken had two efforts well saved by Taylor in the first half and fired wide when well placed after the interval.
Fulham were skittish rather than stylish on a wet evening on the banks of the Thames and, despite enjoying more of the possession, often made the wrong choices in the final third. They still fashioned a number of good chances and Preston were indebted to a great goalkeeping display from David Lucas for securing a precious three points. Tigana will have been bitterly disappointed with his side’s failure to test the Preston keeper in the first half with Barry Hayles and Louis Saha failing to hit the target on a couple of occasions each.
Saha was denied by a splendid save from Lucas after the interval and the Preston number one then did magnificently to prevent Sean Gregan from scoring an own goal as the visitors held for a famous victory – somehow surviving a sustained Fulham onslaught in the final twenty minutes.
FULHAM (4-4-2): Taylor; Finnan, Brevett, Melville, Coleman; Davis (Trollope 89), Clark, Goldbaek (J. Collins 52), Fernandes (Boa Morte 72); Saha, Hayles. Subs (not used): Hahnemann, Symons.
PRESTON NORTH END (4-4-2): Lucas; Alexander, Edwards, Murdoch, Gregan; McKenna, Rankine, Cartwright, Appleton; Macken (Robinson 78), Meijer. Subs (not used): Moilanen, Jackson, Anderson, Gunlaugsson.
BOOKED: Edwards, Gregan, McKenna, Rankine, Appleton.
GOAL: Appleton (68).
REFEREE: Paul Danson (Leicestershire).
ATTENDANCE: 14,354
